Electrical, optical, photocatalytic, and bactericidal properties of polyethylene glycol-assisted sol–gel synthesized ZnTiO₃-implanted ZnO nanoparticles

ZnTiO3-implanted ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by sol–gel method employing polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 and 20 000. The high resolution transmission electron micrographs, selected area electron diffraction pattern, energy dispersive x-ray spectra and powder x-ray diffractograms show the prepared materials as core/shell nanoparticles. Increase of the molecular mass of PEG decreases the d-spacing in ZnO of ZnTiO3-implanted ZnO and pristine ZnO nanoparticles. The charge transfer resistances of ZnTiO3-implanted ZnO nanoparticles are larger than those of pristine ZnO and precursor ZnTiO3 nanoparticles. The optical properties of ZnTiO3/ZnO nanoparticles are similar to those of pristine ZnO nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO is enhanced by the presence of ZnTiO3 core in the ZnO lattice. The bactericidal activity of core/shell ZnTiO3/ZnO nanoparticles is not less than that of ZnO nanoparticles.